Menna of Egypt M (RM) (also known as Menas, Mennas) Died c. 295 or 303?

Mennas was probably born in Egypt and martyred there. All the earliest representations of him agree in showing him accompanied by two camels, so he may well have been a camel- driver before he enlisted in the Roman army. He was also a Christian. When his legion reached Phrygia the persecutions under Diocletian began. Mennas deserted his post in order to escape death and hid in a mountain cave. But as more and more Christians were put to death under Diocletian's edicts, Mennas decided he too ought to make a public profession of his faith. He carefully chose his time. During the annual games in the arena at Cotyaeum in Phrygia, Mennas suddenly appeared before the spectators and announced that he was a Christian. He was tortured and beaten, but would not recant, and so he was put to death by beheading. After his death Saint Mennas's body was taken back to Egypt for burial. This basic story has been expanded and embellished with preposterous marvels and the fame of the hero as one of the so- called soldier-saints grew in proportion: the little terracotta bottles (ampullae) for water from his shrine, brought away by pilgrims, have been found in all countries bordering the Mediterranean. That shrine was at Karm Abu Mina, southwest of Alexandria and Lake Mareotis, on the edge of the Libyan desert, where the ruins of the church and ancillary buildings have been laid bare, and many tokens of the cultus of Saint Mennas found. He has been popularly looked on as one of the great saints of Egypt down to today (Attwater, Benedictines, Bentley, Encyclopedia). Saint Mennas is portrayed as a young knight with a halberd. A 6th century ivory includes two camels in the piece. Sometimes he is shown with his hands cut off and eyes plucked out. He was greatly venerated in the Middle Ages. Patron of wandering peddlers and those falsely accused (Roeder). http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/1111.shtml#menn LINK
Description of Martyr Menas
Saint Menas, who had Egypt as his fatherland, contested in Cotyaeion of Phrygia in 296 during the reign of Diocletian and Maximian. A soldier distinguished for his valour in war, he renounced his rank and withdrew to devote himself to ascetical struggles and prayer in the mountains. Filled with zeal and more than human courage, he presented himself in the midst of a pagan festival in Cotyaeion and declared himself to be a Christian. After terrible torments which he endured with astonishing courage, he was beheaded. His martyrium in Egypt became a place of universal pilgrimage; evidence of ancient journeys to his shrine have been found as far away as Ireland. The glory and refuge of the Christians of Egypt, he has been revealed to be a worker of great miracles and a swift defender for all who call on him with faith; besides all else, he is also invoked for help in finding lost objects.

http://www.iconograms.org/sig.php?eid=285 LINK